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The Chicago Fringe Festival has announced the complete lineup for its inaugural performing arts festival, slated for September 1st through the 5th in the Pilsen neighborhood. In the spirit of fringe festivals worldwide, 46 productions were selected by lottery from a total of 156 applicants. The final schedule will be released on August 1, 2010.
13 states will be represented at the uncensored festival, including New York, California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Colorado and Nevada. In addition, 2 international productions will make an appearance at the festival, with works from Israel and Canada making their Chicago debut. All told, 198 performers will participate in this landmark event.
Local Chicago artists will have a strong showing at the festival, with many acts looking forward to performing for a hometown crowd. New Millennium Theatre Company will present a revival of The Texas Chainsaw Musical, directed by Artistic Director Chad Wise. Genesis Ensemble, a two-year-old performance collective, will present sweet, half-darkness.
Dance and movement will play a featured role, including Anatomy Collective's The Mutations III and Piel Morena Contemporary Dance's Machito Pichon. Local choreographer Megan Rhyme will present Inner Cartography: the science of new things.
The Pilsen neighborhood will be immersed in live art, with many galleries and establishments within the community taking part in a week of exciting events. "Pilsen's vitality and connection to the arts made it a natural fit for the festival," says Executive Director and Founder, Sarah Mikayla Brown. "We're excited to push both artistic and geographical boundaries as we introduce our audience to new works in what may be a new neighborhood to them."
At the heart of the festivities will be Fringe Central, located near Racine and 18th Street. Live music, entertainment and outdoor exhibits will be accompanied by delicious food provided by local favorite Honky Tonk BBQ. "Fringe Central will be ground zero for participants and audience alike to kick back, relax, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Pilsen. We're excited to provide a place where folks can share ideas, network and just enjoy good company," says Associate Producer Vinnie Lacey.
Fringe Central will also play host to the Chicago Fringe Preview Party on August 28, 2010. Attendees will get an early taste of festival offerings as selected performers preview their Chicago Fringe productions.
All eight venues have been announced, including the Chicago Art Department Gallery, Dream Theatre, Temple Gallery, EP Theater, Chicago Arts District Galleries, Casa Aztlan and Simone's Bar. Six of the venues are non-traditional spaces, and the Festival is currently raising capital to ensure premium flooring, lighting, sound equipment and technicians are in place to transform each space into a premiere performance venue.
The Chicago Fringe Festival will also mark the last stop of the first annual Midwest Fringe Circuit, featuring three other American fringe festivals: Kansas City, Minnesota and Indianapolis. Four productions from each festival were selected by lottery to tour all four cities.
"The American Fringe Festival movement is only growing stronger, with popular Festivals in New York, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Kansas City, San Francisco, Hollywood, D.C; the list goes on. Naturally, audiences and performers crave a Fringe here in Chicago, arguably the new works capital of the United States. We endeavor to honor the Fringe tradition, but also seek to create a Fringe experience that will honor the unique qualities of Chicago," states Brown.
More information about the festival, including a full lineup and waiting list, is available at www.chicagofringe.org. Tickets go on sale August 2.